Best Screenshot API in 2026: PageBolt vs ScreenshotOne vs Urlbox

If you're shopping for a screenshot API, you've probably found three names: PageBolt, ScreenshotOne, and Urlbox. All three are solid. But they're optimized for different use cases.

This is an honest comparison. PageBolt is mine, but I'm not here to oversell it. I'll tell you exactly where each tool wins.

The Problem They All Solve

You need screenshots of websites. Maybe for:

• PDF reports and invoices
• Social card (OG) image generation
• Visual regression testing
• Documentation automation
• Debugging CI/CD workflows

Running Chromium locally is expensive: 300MB per deployment, cold-start latency, memory spikes. A screenshot API solves that.

PageBolt vs ScreenshotOne vs Urlbox

PageBolt

Price: $29/month (500 requests), $99/month (5K requests)
Lowest tier: 100 requests/month free

Strengths:

• Cheapest paid tier — $29/month beats competitors 2:1
• Video recording — only API that records browser workflows as MP4 with narration synced to steps
• MCP server — works natively in Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf (AI agents get native tool access)
• Fast iteration — built for developers who change their mind often

Trade-offs:

• Smaller company (raised ~$500K), less brand recognition
• Fewer device presets (~25 vs competitors' 50+)

Best for: Startups, indie makers, AI agents, video demos

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ScreenshotOne

Price: $19/month (1K requests), $99/month (10K requests)
Lowest tier: 100 requests/month free

Strengths:

• Lowest price on the entry tier ($19 vs $29)
• Established player — 7+ years in business
• Device presets — 50+ device sizes supported
• Reliable infrastructure — battle-tested by enterprises

Trade-offs:

• No video recording
• No MCP server
• No AI agent integrations
• Pricing doesn't scale well (gaps between tiers)

Best for: Agencies, large orgs, established workflows

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Urlbox

Price: $49/month (5K requests), $149/month (25K requests)
Lowest tier: 100 requests/month free

Strengths:

• Advanced capture options — JavaScript rendering, custom headers, proxy support
• Long history — trusted by large publishers
• Enterprise support — dedicated account managers on higher tiers

Trade-offs:

• Most expensive pricing ($49 entry vs $19/$29)
• No video recording
• No MCP integrations
• Slower innovation cycle

Best for: Publishers, enterprises with compliance needs

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	PageBolt	ScreenshotOne	Urlbox
Screenshots	✅	✅	✅
PDFs	✅	✅	✅
OG images	✅	⚠️ Limited	⚠️ Limited
Video recording	✅	❌	❌
MCP server	✅	❌	❌
AI agent support	✅	❌	❌
Device presets	25	50+	50+
Price ($29-50 tier)	$29	$19	$49
Free tier requests	100	100	100
Free tier expiry	Never	Never	Never

Who Should Use Each

PageBolt if:

• You're building AI agents (need MCP)
• You need video demos (record_video endpoint)
• Budget matters (lowest paid tier price)
• You're experimenting with new ideas

ScreenshotOne if:

• You need the lowest entry price ($19)
• You have established, stable workflows
• You value company maturity and reputation

Urlbox if:

• You're a publisher or enterprise
• You need advanced capture (proxies, headers, JavaScript config)
• You have compliance requirements
• Price isn't your constraint

The Verdict

For 2026: PageBolt wins on value if you care about AI agents or video. ScreenshotOne wins on price if you want the cheapest starting point. Urlbox wins on maturity if you're enterprise.

If you're building an AI agent, shipping narrated demo videos, or integrating screenshots into Cursor/Claude Desktop, PageBolt is the only option. If you're running a traditional web service with stable screenshot needs, ScreenshotOne is hard to beat at $19/month.

Try PageBolt free: 100 requests/month, no credit card. If you need video recording or MCP support, that's the deciding factor.

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Want to switch from ScreenshotOne or Urlbox? Both use similar REST APIs. Migration takes ~30 minutes. Email [e-mail] if you need help.